Nuggets' Woolridge Has Surgery for Detached Retina in Right Eye

Denver Nugget forward Orlando Woolridge, enjoying his finest NBA season and among the league's top scorers, underwent surgery Friday night to repair a detached retina in his right eye.

Doctors said it was too early to determine the severity of the injury or the exact recovery time that will be required, but a team physician said that Woolridge could be sidelined up to two months.

"The surgery went very well," team spokesman Jay Clark said.

"He won't be able to do anything athletically for two weeks. After that, minimal aerobics conditioning will get under way."

Woolridge, tied for third in scoring in the NBA with a 29.0 average, apparently suffered the injury in a collision during Denver's game with Phoenix last Saturday. He had complained of blurred vision the past few days.

Woolridge already was hobbling on a swollen ankle that had reduced his quickness and maneuverability and limited him to a season-low 16 points against the Spurs Wednesday night.

Woolridge, 31, who was acquired from the Lakers on Aug. 3 in exchange for two second-round draft choices in 1993 and 1995, led the NBA in scoring for much of this season.